Use a predator apron on the outside of the run. Use about 12" of hardware cloth stapled to bottom of run, and then use landscape stakes to secure it in the grass outside. The grass will grow over it and you won't see it, and nothing is going to dig a foot long tunnel to get inside. It works.
Those coops are not great at all. I had one and this is what my review is after 3 years: 1) I had to put concrete edge and/or blocks around the run base because rats and snakes can dig and pass from under. 2) the wood is very weak and cracks easily, and after several uses the screws where the hinges are start to come off and and part that open/close will get weak . I had to replace some panels with better wood, especially the door and open hatches. 3) the metal tray is not that easy to clean and actually will rust and fall apart. the poop sticks to it and you will have to scrape it. and if you don't keep it clean it will rust and totally break and several holes will appear. Then I had a snake entering from the holes in the tray. I had to remove it and make a small concrete slab and lay the house on top of it.
For my needs I prefer the shed for sure. If I was living in the city, maybe had a smaller yard or something I would 100% go with the pre fab. We are lucky to have the room we have so I wanted something bigger.
The latches on the nesting boxes aren't too bad, but on the doors, those are stupid. I have one that is similar, but a little bigger. My coop/nesting boxes are off the ground, so there is room under the coop, which is nice and adds to the run, which also has a roof on it. They need shade. The latches on the door, absolutely have to go. I also put pavers all the way around it, to make it a little more safe. And it looks nice. At night, I place an extra paver in front of each of the doors. It is cute, but I don't foresee these types of coops/runs lasting. Maybe a few years if maintained.
@6:19 nooo you dump it in the compost pile for next seasons chilli starter mix! 😄It's a great review in fairness. I would love to have hens but our garden is too small plus my tiny dog is psycho territorial against cats and birds, so any coop birds would probably have short lives from stress! In the coop design you reviewed, a 1/2" or 1/4" grid could be added as a base layer to curl around bottom of the perimeter of the outdoor part, preventing foxes or whatever from burrowing into it. It would enclose the outdoor part to almost predator-proof unless the predator fits through 1/2" or 1/4" gaps, which narrows down the predator list to things the chickens/hens can probably group attack and kill themselves.
I am on vacation at the moment and this is a long one and I want to make sure I actually read it 😂. Not ignoring you, I’ll read this tomorrow when I get home!
It has been a wild couple of weeks with yard work, vacations, and easter!! You are absolutely right, a nice little skirt or base layer would definitely help with that! Also, I will definitely be using stuff for the compost pile for the chili plants! I am actually going to be building another 1,000 square foot garden Just for chili plants so I can have my pepper garden and then a separate veggie garden!
I actually was shocked that you said put it in the garbage!!😩😤🤦🏻♀️ Chicken poop and shavings is one of the best compost ingredients you can ever add to everything else!!!
😂 yeah no we use all our chicken, goat, and pig droppings in our garden 😂.we use a deep bedding for all 3 and compost it down and use it in the garden!
Raccoons can unlatch the sliding locks that’s on the run. I had one open a door on my coop last night killed all of my chicks 😢 I’d definitely get different latches just to be safe.
Oh no!!! No way?! I’m sorry to hear that! Raccoons can definitely surprise you, but I wouldn’t have guessed they could figure out those latches! Thank you for the heads up!
@@WhitepepperFarmshomestead not a problem! Definitely don’t want anyone else going through what we have went through today. I didn’t think they could either but boy I was wrong.
Yeah that’s rough for sure! We had that happen our first year with chickens and it’s not fun at all! Good luck, and I hope you guys can get more chickens and keep them safe!
Anybody else smash the like button on command? Very informative video, my brother. I appreciate you. I'm looking forward to scroll thru more of your uploads.
I'm just doing research but a few things I don't like. I will build a coop with a REAR access to the nesting boxes; 90% of chicken predators come from above - so they are naturally programmed to be really spooked from opening that access when they're in there. (Better to drop the rear wall - hang it with a chain to make a shelf or stop from going too far). Where I live the animals would tear this apart but it's cute. I have to plan for just about every predator they'll attract: hawks, eagles, coyotes, wolves, foxes and even snakes. I will design for the 'deep litter system' so the tray isn't much of a help for that - but this is nifty for someone wanting to clean it often.. I would add some outdoor perches and some cover for the open part so they dont have to move inside every time it rains.
If this was my only option, I’d wire the bottom of the run so nothing can dig under. We have dog sized foxes and definitely smart enough to get into a run. A local had a coop that had a basic lock on the door. A fox got in and massacred the whole flock 😥 I wouldn’t trust a prefab without some kind of adjustment, but maybe that’s just me 😅
Oh for sure! The same company does have coops like that, they are just the more expensive ones. I would have loved to see it raised up like that in this one though for sure!
Use a predator apron on the outside of the run. Use about 12" of hardware cloth stapled to bottom of run, and then use landscape stakes to secure it in the grass outside. The grass will grow over it and you won't see it, and nothing is going to dig a foot long tunnel to get inside. It works.
Those coops are not great at all. I had one and this is what my review is after 3 years:
1) I had to put concrete edge and/or blocks around the run base because rats and snakes can dig and pass from under.
2) the wood is very weak and cracks easily, and after several uses the screws where the hinges are start to come off and and part that open/close will get weak . I had to replace some panels with better wood, especially the door and open hatches.
3) the metal tray is not that easy to clean and actually will rust and fall apart. the poop sticks to it and you will have to scrape it. and if you don't keep it clean it will rust and totally break and several holes will appear. Then I had a snake entering from the holes in the tray. I had to remove it and make a small concrete slab and lay the house on top of it.
Thank you!
Well...do you prefer the shed chicken coop or the prefab coop? Pros and cons of each would be nice. Thanks.
For my needs I prefer the shed for sure. If I was living in the city, maybe had a smaller yard or something I would 100% go with the pre fab. We are lucky to have the room we have so I wanted something bigger.
@@WhitepepperFarmshomestead Thanks for your response.
Of course!
Thank you for the Review i just bought this coop. Love it.
Thank you for watching! I really like it, we have our older chicks in it right now!
How many chickens do you keep in yours
The latches on the nesting boxes aren't too bad, but on the doors, those are stupid. I have one that is similar, but a little bigger. My coop/nesting boxes are off the ground, so there is room under the coop, which is nice and adds to the run, which also has a roof on it. They need shade. The latches on the door, absolutely have to go. I also put pavers all the way around it, to make it a little more safe. And it looks nice. At night, I place an extra paver in front of each of the doors. It is cute, but I don't foresee these types of coops/runs lasting. Maybe a few years if maintained.
@6:19 nooo you dump it in the compost pile for next seasons chilli starter mix! 😄It's a great review in fairness. I would love to have hens but our garden is too small plus my tiny dog is psycho territorial against cats and birds, so any coop birds would probably have short lives from stress! In the coop design you reviewed, a 1/2" or 1/4" grid could be added as a base layer to curl around bottom of the perimeter of the outdoor part, preventing foxes or whatever from burrowing into it. It would enclose the outdoor part to almost predator-proof unless the predator fits through 1/2" or 1/4" gaps, which narrows down the predator list to things the chickens/hens can probably group attack and kill themselves.
I am on vacation at the moment and this is a long one and I want to make sure I actually read it 😂. Not ignoring you, I’ll read this tomorrow when I get home!
It has been a wild couple of weeks with yard work, vacations, and easter!! You are absolutely right, a nice little skirt or base layer would definitely help with that! Also, I will definitely be using stuff for the compost pile for the chili plants! I am actually going to be building another 1,000 square foot garden Just for chili plants so I can have my pepper garden and then a separate veggie garden!
I actually was shocked that you said put it in the garbage!!😩😤🤦🏻♀️ Chicken poop and shavings is one of the best compost ingredients you can ever add to everything else!!!
😂 yeah no we use all our chicken, goat, and pig droppings in our garden 😂.we use a deep bedding for all 3 and compost it down and use it in the garden!
You could also compost the tray litter 🥰
It makes the best compost!
Just ordered this for my broody hen.
Just bought ours! Thanks for the knowledge; we're excited for our chicken castle 🏰
I’m excited for you!!!
Do you plan on uploading content regarding your coop? In the market for a small coop for my families needs right outside of nashville.
How the coop holding up?
Raccoons can unlatch the sliding locks that’s on the run. I had one open a door on my coop last night killed all of my chicks 😢 I’d definitely get different latches just to be safe.
Oh no!!! No way?! I’m sorry to hear that! Raccoons can definitely surprise you, but I wouldn’t have guessed they could figure out those latches! Thank you for the heads up!
@@WhitepepperFarmshomestead not a problem! Definitely don’t want anyone else going through what we have went through today. I didn’t think they could either but boy I was wrong.
Yeah that’s rough for sure! We had that happen our first year with chickens and it’s not fun at all! Good luck, and I hope you guys can get more chickens and keep them safe!
Where your chickens inside of the wooden structure, or in the fenced area?
@@liamliam5341 they where in a wooden structure, the racoon figured out the lock.
Anybody else smash the like button on command? Very informative video, my brother. I appreciate you. I'm looking forward to scroll thru more of your uploads.
I just assembled one. From the scent and feel of the wood I really think it's cedar which should hold up well.
Awesome!!
I had one given to me. I wouldn't use it for grown chickens, maybe 5 chicks as a grow out pen.
Nice, that’s a score!
beautiful backyard. we like your video and pictures
I'm just doing research but a few things I don't like. I will build a coop with a REAR access to the nesting boxes; 90% of chicken predators come from above - so they are naturally programmed to be really spooked from opening that access when they're in there. (Better to drop the rear wall - hang it with a chain to make a shelf or stop from going too far). Where I live the animals would tear this apart but it's cute.
I have to plan for just about every predator they'll attract: hawks, eagles, coyotes, wolves, foxes and even snakes.
I will design for the 'deep litter system' so the tray isn't much of a help for that - but this is nifty for someone wanting to clean it often.. I would add some outdoor perches and some cover for the open part so they dont have to move inside every time it rains.
After several months do you still like this coup?
Thats a giant behind. Good for you!
I’m so confused 😂
😄😄Huh?? 😳
I feel like this is really drafty which is not good during winter months
The run is most definitely drafty. The coop itself though isn’t bad, you’re able to open and close the vent to increase or decrease airflow.
If this was my only option, I’d wire the bottom of the run so nothing can dig under. We have dog sized foxes and definitely smart enough to get into a run. A local had a coop that had a basic lock on the door. A fox got in and massacred the whole flock 😥
I wouldn’t trust a prefab without some kind of adjustment, but maybe that’s just me 😅
Why would you throw good fertilizer away,put it in compost pile.
😂 as soon as I was editing the video I regretted saying that. I don’t even throw my own away, we compost all of it. Blooper reel for sure!
The included run space is always too small on these cheap kits
Cool package 👍🏻Ur lucky u dont have Badgers ;) they dig in there in 1 minute 😅
Oh yeah, no badgers here haha!
Got mine today for $60
Put your bed in
It says $999 for me where did you pay $60?
Don't throw out the poop! Garden?
wish the setup was off the ground
We are using this coop at our friends house and they built a pretty sweet table to keep it on, that was our biggest gripe too 😂
@@WhitepepperFarmshomestead ok great , i was thinking more of putting the coop on post to allow more square footage
Oh for sure! The same company does have coops like that, they are just the more expensive ones. I would have loved to see it raised up like that in this one though for sure!
Martinez Ruth White Sandra Robinson Brenda
please slow down. You talk way too fast. Thank you.
I have been told that, and I have been trying to slow down. I’m sorry! I will try to be mindful of how quickly I am speaking
I like your speed!